Meshing the roles...

The key roles of developer and designer keep meshing toward each other. I have a background in design, print and web... and yet I can also design a schema for user-experience, create an interactive methodology for delivering dynamic information, and code a little AJAX, DHTML and Javascript. Many of us designers have forgone learning ASP or PHP, preferring to work with those whose passion is development with great designers. In many disciplines, the lines are blurring, or meshing. If you can branch out a bit, do it. BTW... I have been playing with Expression since it came out and it is impressive. (No worrys ADOBE, I still love my Dreamweaver and Creative Suite.)

The key here is going to be the workflow between designers and developers and making sure that the tools support both types of content creators. Creating world class RIAs simply will not be possible without an efficient workflow between the two areas. Adobe has focused a lot on incorporating Adobe and Macromedia products, making sure that designers can easily move between both companies software. But they haven't quite perfected the designer/developer workflow, and I think Microsoft has a bit of a head start here. The Expression Suite seems built from the ground up to work well with their developer tools. The question will be whether or not designers will use these new tools.